Servers cost thousands of dollars and hold a company’s crucial data, so selecting a rack to house the “tech nervous system” of a company is an important decision, writes Nicole Kersh.

Factors such as business growth, where you will be using the Server Rack and what the Server Rack will house should be considered when choosing the perfect Server Rack for your business will need.

Servers are sensitive to heat and environmental conditions. They require airflow and particular temperature settings to ensure smooth performance, so base your decision on whether the Server Rack will be installed in a data centre that requires temperature control, or whether it will be placed in a dusty warehouse which requires a higher level of environmental protection.

Server Racks can also be used to house communications equipment such as patch panels, or backbone cabling instead of a server. These racks are traditionally shallower around 600mm deep and are cheaper than traditional Server Racks. Be sure to specify what equipment you are putting in the rack before you buy it.

Every Server Rack will have a different weight load bearing depending on the kind of technology being housed. Servers, Switches and Rack Mount equipment like a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) can be very heavy, thus having Server Racks capable of withstanding heavy weights is essential to every business.

A “Rack Unit” or “RU” is an EIA standard allowance unit for measuring rack mount equipment. 1 Rack Unit is 44.45mm high. Typically, a 24 port patch panel or switch will be “1RU” in size, therefore a 42RU Rack will allow you to install 42 Rack Units worth of equipment.

An increase in online imports has led to an influx of cheaper Server Racks hitting the Australian market but compromising on the cost of a server rack may prove costly in the long run.

Server Racks that are built overseas may be cheap but may not meet international or Australian manufacturing standards.

If the rack has not been manufactured in Australia, check that the electrical equipment inside the Server Rack meets Australian standards and has the necessary Australian Plugs. Some Server Racks are already supplied with fans and power boards inside them which can pose a fire hazard as they are generally not certified or tested.

A full height Server Rack is over 2.1 metres high and most lifts are just shy of 2 metres, if you are ordering a full height rack, be sure to check that it will fit in the elevator!

4Cabling are able to custom manufacture Server Racks – cable of holding weights up to 800 kilograms – to a business’s specifications.

Visit www.4cabling.com.au.